Bound, shot in the head: Dead woman found in car

CEBU, Philippines - Residents of Almendras Street in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City, yesterday morning woke up to the grisly discovery of a 31-year-old woman dead in a parked car with her hands and feet bound with packaging tape and her head covered with a cloth.

The woman inside the green Kia Picanto was later identified as Agnelen Uy of Baywalk, Deca Homes in Talisay City, Cebu, she suffered a gunshot wound to the left side of her head under her ear.

Police investigation revealed that at around 7 p.m. last Wednesday Wilfredo Paspe, a security guard of a nearby establishment, saw the car parked beside the building where Paspe was assigned.

At around 5:55 a.m. yesterday, while Paspe was checking the water meter of the building, he saw that the vehicle was still where it was the night before.

He decided to take a look inside and only to find a body with bound hands and legs. The body was lying in a prone position; the feet were between the front seats while the head, which was covered with a cloth, was resting on the backseat.

Paspe then called for help. Policemen and personnel from the Cebu City Emergency Medical Services responded immediately and assessed the status of the woman. However, the medical team confirmed that Agnelen was already dead and in the state of rigor mortis.

As the investigation went on, it was traced from the records in the Cebu City Transportation Office that the car was owned by a certain Gregg Victor Gabison, a dean of a college department in one of the universities in Cebu City.

However, Gabison immediately clarified through phone interviews and posts in his Facebook account that he sold the car last year to Wayne Christopher Uy, 40, of Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City, Cebu, the husband of the victim.

“Just to clarify, I sold our Kia Picanto last year, however, the ownership was still not changed, and was renewed even last March. Though, I have the deed of sale with me. I am coordinating and collaborating with the different news agencies and the police just to clear my name,” said Gabison in his Facebook status.

Wayne later identified the body as his wife at the Rolling Hills Funeral Homes and said the car was also his. He was then invited to the Homicide Section in the Cebu City Police Office for questioning.

Wayne told the media that he and Agnelen had conflicts in their marriage in which he alleged she had an affair with another man. However, he said he does not have any idea who could have killed Agnelen.

“Naa man gud third party na siya, pero di pud ko sure ana kay mysterious na iyang life,” said Wayne.

A blotter report recorded at the Subangdaku Police Station in Mandaue City showed that Wayne went to the police station last August 13 and August 15 about Agnelen’s alleged misbehavior.

In the August 13 entry, Wayne said Agnelen threatened him verbally and stabbed him with a pair of scissors. In the August 15 entry, Wayne said Agnelen allegedly tried to purposely cause damage to his car while it was parked.

Wayne said after that they lived apart and did not see each other for two months until last Wednesday when they allegedly had a conversation inside his car about their annulment, but an unfortunate incident happened.

He said around 4 p.m. they were just driving around the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City in the car to talk about their annulment. However, at around 7 p.m., two men onboard a motorcycle allegedly blocked them.

The passenger, who was armed, allegedly aimed his gun at Wayne. Allegedly thinking that those were robbers going after him since he owns a lending company, he said he just went out of the car. However, the man allegedly went inside and drove off with the car with Agnelen still inside.

“Wa man ko kahibawo gud kay naa ko kompanya, nagtuo ko nga kidnap-pon ko or i-hostage ba ko, kuhaan ba ko og kwarta, ana ba so nigawas ra pud ko. Ila mang gikuha ang sakyanan diay paghuman,” said Wayne.

Based on the blotter report at the same police station Wednesday night, it was already at 10:25 p.m. when Wayne went to the police station and reported what happened. He said because of shock, he was not able to immediately determine what to do.

“Wa na ko kahibawo gyud sa ako movements… Na-shock man ko kay murag unusual ba. Nag-tuyok-tuyok ra ko, nag tan-aw kung naa ba nagsunod nako or wala,” said Wayne.

Chief Inspector David Señor, chief of the Police Community Relations Branch in the Cebu City Police Office, said as of yesterday Wayne is considered a person of interest in the case since they have witnesses who identified him as involved in the crime.

Señor, however, said they cannot yet give concrete details since their investigation with the witnesses is still ongoing. He said they are expecting three persons to give their statements and will try to link the statements of the witnesses.

Yesterday, Wayne was also subjected to a paraffin test to determine if he fired a gun.

Police investigators also got footage from a closed-circuit television camera installed in a nearby establishment which captured the car being parked in the area and a person leaving it. However, he said they have yet to enhance the footage to have a clearer view of the person who left the car.

“So sa karon, we are continuing usa the investigation. Gathering of evidences and testimonies of witnesses para ma pin down and gituohang suspect,” said Señor.

Wayne said he is aware the police are suspecting him as part of the crime. However, he said he is willing to cooperate with the police.

“Ila nga gikuha ako phone ‘ron, ila gipaimbistigar, ipatan-aw nako didto tanan… Yes, mapasanginlan gyud ko ani pero mo-coordinate lang ko og unsa,” said Wayne.

As of last night police released Wayne for lack of evidence that could tie him to the crime.

Señor said police investigators still cannot establish what the motive of the crime was since they have not yet determined who the suspect is. — /BRP (FREEMAN)